Your Child's Voice

A parent's guide to understanding, nurturing, and celebrating their child's communication journey.

Little Voices, Big Steps: Understanding Communication Milestones in Early Childhood

In a soft cartoon style, four young, diverse children sit on a gentle green hill and play cooperatively with colorful blocks, representing the development of social communication skills through play.

Parents celebrate every tiny sound, babble, giggle, and first word our child says. These moments aren’t just adorable — they’re signs of important communication development milestones.

But what exactly should we expect, and when? And how do we know if our child is on track?

At Let’s Go Speech Therapy, we know how meaningful these early communication moments are. This blog post is here to empower you with knowledge and reassure you: every child develops at their own pace — but early support and awareness can make a world of difference.

Unpacking Communication Milestones

Communication development is more than just learning to talk — it's how your child learns to connect with the world around them. Communication includes:

An illustration of a parent and a young child sitting at a table together, with the parent gently guiding the child's hand as they interact with a puzzle, representing understanding and learning.

Understanding others (receptive language)

An illustration of a young child interacting with another using gestures and the young girl smiling back.

Using gestures and eye gaze (non-verbal communication)

An illustration of a parent and child outdoors interacting with an animal while the child expresses their joy and needs through non-verbal cues and sound.

Expressing needs, thoughts, and ideas (expressive language)

An illustration of two young, diverse children sitting on grass and happily taking turns building a tower with colorful blocks, representing social skills and cooperation.

Taking turns and staying on topic (social communication skills)

Each milestone builds on the last, from early eye contact and babbling to more complex skills like conversation and storytelling. These milestones lay the foundation for social connection, emotional well-being, and learning.

Why Is This So Crucial?

Strong communication skills are fundamental for every area of life — not just for speaking, but for thriving socially, emotionally, and academically.

When children reach their communication milestones, they are more likely to:

Build friendships and relationships
Express their needs and emotions effectively
Understand others and be understood
Participate better in group settings like childcare or school
Develop confidence and resilience

On the other hand, if communication challenges go unnoticed or unsupported, a child may find it difficult to participate fully in everyday life. Early support can unlock their potential and reduce frustration, isolation, and long-term learning difficulties.

Spotting the Signs: Your Guide to Communication Development Milestones (and Our FREE Checklist)

A warm illustration of a parent and young child sitting together on a rug, looking at a picture book. The parent has their gaze half on the book and half on the child, showing a supportive learning environment.

Every child develops at their own wonderful pace, but developmental milestones can be a helpful guide on their journey. Remember, these are general signposts, not a strict race! To help you and families just like yours, we’ve created a FREE, easy-to-use Social Communication Milestones Checklist!

This simple tool is designed to help you observe and understand the exciting communication skills blossoming in your child, from their baby days right through the preschool years. Our checklist breaks down these skills by age (Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers), making it easy to see what to look for.

Download the Checklist

How to Monitor and Support Social Skills at Home (Using Your Checklist):

Your new checklist is a friendly companion for everyday moments. It’s not about testing, but about tuning in and nurturing connection. Here are some simple things you can start doing today:

A parent and a young child outdoors, looking with gentle curiosity at toys, demonstrating how to observe the world together.

Tune In & Observe

As you play or go about your day, gently notice how your child interacts. Use the checklist for their age group as a simple reference for what kinds of social skills might be emerging – like shifting eye gaze, using gestures, or taking turns.

An illustration showing a parent and child facing each other with warm, happy smiles and stylized hearts between them, representing a simple, positive connection.

Chat & Connect Simply

Talk about what you’re doing together. When your child tries to communicate (with sounds, gestures, or words you see on the checklist!), respond warmly and expand a little on what they're expressing. Little back-and-forth chats make a big difference.

A parent listens patiently with a kind expression to their child, who has a question mark in a thought bubble above their head, symbolizing the importance of giving a child space to respond.

Pause and Respond

Give your child time to respond in their own way — with a sound, a gesture, or a word — and respond warmly to keep the conversation going.

A parent and child sit together on a grassy hill under a tree, deeply engaged in reading a book together, representing building vocabulary and comprehension.

Read and Share Stories:

Books build vocabulary, comprehension, and imagination. Make reading time interactive — ask questions, make sound effects, and point to pictures.

An illustration of a parent and child playing face-to-face on the floor with a toy cat, emphasizing direct interaction and shared play.

Play Face-to-Face:

Play builds communication. Take turns, share toys, follow their lead, and model pretend play.

Trusting Your Instincts: When to Seek Support

If you have any concerns about your child's social communication or any aspect of their child development, please know that your instincts as a parent are powerful. It’s always best to seek advice early. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.

What to do:

Trust yourself: If something feels off, it’s worth exploring.
Chat with a professional: Your GP can be a great first port of call. They can provide initial guidance and referrals if needed.
Consider a Speech Pathology Assessment: A Speech Pathologist is an expert in all areas of communication, including social communication skills. We can assess your child's strengths and challenges and provide a clear path forward.

The earlier we spot and support communication needs, the better the outcomes for your child’s future.

Bridging Distances, Opening Doors: Speech Therapy That Fits Your Life

At Let's Go Speech Therapy, we are deeply committed to making quality speech therapy accessible, no matter your circumstances or location. We understand the unique challenges faced by families and are dedicated to providing flexible, supportive, and effective solutions.

A friendly speech therapist sits in a welcoming office and interacts with a young child, symbolizing a flexible, client-centered therapy session.

Busy or Need more Flexibility?

Our mobile speech therapy service means we can come to you – anywhere within our Sydney service areas. This reduces stress and allows your child to learn in a familiar environment.

A person sits comfortably in a cozy room with a laptop, looking out a window at a serene landscape, representing the convenience and accessibility of telehealth.

In a Rural or Remote Area?

Feeling isolated shouldn't be a barrier to support. Our telehealth speech therapy (also known as online speech therapy) brings expert care directly to your home. It's convenient, effective, and eliminates travel time and costs. We can help you set up and feel comfortable with online sessions.

A symbolic illustration of a warm, inviting open door with golden light spilling out onto a path in a natural setting, representing accessible pathways to care.

Facing Financial Pressures?

We believe that every child deserves the chance to thrive, regardless of socioeconomic background. While speech therapy is an investment, we are committed to discussing your options. For transparent pricing and our list of funding options visit our pricing page. Our goal is to find a way to support you, which might include providing home program ideas or connecting you with valuable free resources while you explore options.

We understand that every family's situation is different, and that's why our support is designed to be as individual as your child. Your goals become our goals. We tailor every step to work collaboratively with you to craft a client-centred plan using proven, evidence-based strategies that make sense for your child and your family. We are committed to working alongside all our clients and offering as much flexible support and resources that empower you every step of the way, because we know you are the true expert on your child and their most influential guide.

Ready to Nurture Your Child's Connection? Take the Next Step!

A young child stands confidently in a beautiful natural setting, reading a book while friendly cartoon animals like a squirrel and a rabbit look on, symbolizing confidence and a connection with the world.

If you have any concerns about your child's communication, speech, language, or overall development, please don't wait. Early support can make a lifelong difference.

Seek Clarity: We're here to listen to your concerns and answer your questions.
Book an Appointment: Schedule an assessment or an initial consultation to discuss your child's needs here.
Get FREE Resources: Sign up to our mailing list today to receive more free resources to help support you or your child at home!

Let's work together to help your child communicate more effectively, build confidence, and connect with the world around them.

Google Sites

Report abuse